Why It’s SO Important That Comics Are Finally Including More Girls

Things have changed within the Marvel Comics universe—and we’re here for it. Whereas seven years ago there were one or two female-led books in production from the comics megalith, now there are 20. And it’s not solely due to the creation of a throng of badass new heroines. Carol Danvers, a character previously known as Ms. Marvel who has been around since the ’60s, now reigns as Captain Marvel (one of the single most powerful superheroes around), and Jane Foster, who began as Thor’s love interest, now holds both the title and hammer of her ex-beau. In short: Girls rule the fictional world.

“Showcasing great female characters who can stand up alongside their male counterparts is part of our history,” says Sana Amanat, Marvel’s director of content and character development. Although comics have tended to cater to a male audience over the years, Marvel Comics has executed a powerful rethinking of its female-superhero archetype in an effort to make the genre more inclusive. “We’ve created versions of them that aren’t based on their feminine forms—Carol now wears a uniform, not thigh-high boots and a swimsuit,” says Sana. “It’s also involved figuring out what type of plot is relatable to this audience.”

The newer heroines take relatability one step further. Encompassing a variety of races, ethnicities, ages, and religions, they reflect the diversity of our communities. “Marvel is the world outside your window,” says Sana. “We are telling the experiences of people of all backgrounds through metaphor.” Take Kamala Khan, who was created in 2013, for example. Inspired by Sana’s own upbringing, she’s a Muslim American teenager living in New Jersey who struggles with figuring out who she is before ultimately taking over the role of Ms. Marvel. “We realized it’s a story about identity,” says Sana. “It’s about a young girl who isn’t sure if she agrees with who people have told her she’s supposed to be.”

Other game-changing heroines include America Chavez, who is a Latin American LGBTQ teenager, and Riri Williams, an African-American engineering student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who creates a suit comparable to that of Iron Man. Her alias is, appropriately, Ironheart. These new female-led books are doing more than just making comics more accessible. They’re showcasing a
strong, diverse group of heroines that girls can look up to. However subtly, these stories are breaking down institutionalized sexism and ingraining in all young people the idea that they are capable not only of greatness but of changing the world.